Daily wager and rugby player Bharat Fattun Chavan hopes rugby changes his life

He will represent Maharashtra Rugby team in the National Games.

Bharat Fattun Chavan's day typically begins with selling fish at Mumbai's Colaba market at 5 AM. Following this, he undertakes odd jobs and manages to find time for studying before heading to the Bombay Gymkhana grounds. There, he pushes his body to counter tackles and score goals on the rugby field.

To say that Chavan's life is a testament to grit, hard work, and single-minded determination to achieve his goals would be an understatement. This month, the Maharashtra rugby player has set his sights on leading his team to the top of the podium in the National Games 2023 taking place in Goa.

The rugby competition is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, with the last edition's silver medalists, Maharashtra, facing Bihar in their first group match in the National Games 2023.

Bharat Fattun Chavan expressed, "The team's preparation is very good. Last year, due to some reasons, we missed out on winning the gold, but this time, the team is ready to claim the gold. The team has arrived here after an 18-day training camp in Nagpur. We used to train three times a day during the camp." Chavan has been a part of the state team for over five years.

He also played a pivotal role in helping Bharti Vidhyapeeth secure the gold medal in the last Khelo India University Games and received a call-up for the national camp. He is hopeful of making it to the national team soon.

Amidst all of this, Bharat Fattun Chavan shoulders the responsibility of providing for his family, particularly since his father suffered a stroke. He shared, "My family lives in the village. My father is a farmer, but he is unable to work as he has suffered 50% paralysis. My younger brother is also studying, so I have to take care of that too."

Reflecting on his introduction to the sport, Chavan explained that he began playing rugby after watching children in the Colaba slums where he lives. "I started playing after watching them and instantly loved the sport."

Discussing his aspirations, Bharat Fattun Chavan stated, "It is my dream to represent India in rugby. Once I get selected, I will introduce more slum kids like me to the game of rugby."

Moreover, a national call-up could potentially lead to improved earning opportunities for Chavan. He noted, "I can then apply for a stable job. As a daily wage worker, some days I have work, and some days I have nothing."

Achieving a gold medal in Goa could mark the initial step towards realizing that dream.